Deep learning-based revenue-per-click prediction model framework

ABSTRACT

A system including one or more processors and one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computing instructions configured to run on the one or more processors and perform extracting meta features for an item to generate sparse feature embeddings for the item; reducing, using a multilayer perceptron, a dimension of the sparse feature embeddings to generate a representation vector for the meta features; extracting, using a recurrent neural network, sequential data from dense traffic features for the item over a period of time; and inputting the representation vector for the meta features and the sequential data from the dense traffic features into a multilayer neural network with a rectified linear unit (ReLU) activation function and a scoring layer to generate one or more performance metrics for the item. Other embodiments are disclosed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally relates to a deep learning-basedrevenue-per-click prediction model framework.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, performance prediction for web advertisements is basedon historical traffic features. Such performance prediction generallydoes not take into account additional features and non-structuralinformation about items.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To facilitate further description of the embodiments, the followingdrawings are provided in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front elevational view of a computer system that issuitable for implementing an embodiment of the system disclosed in FIG.3;

FIG. 2 illustrates a representative block diagram of an example of theelements included in the circuit boards inside a chassis of the computersystem of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a system that can be employed fora deep learning prediction model framework for an item, according to anembodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart for a method, according to anotherembodiment; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart diagram for a method of automaticprediction of performance metrics for an item, according to anotherembodiment of FIG. 3.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figuresillustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions anddetails of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoidunnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure. Additionally, elementsin the drawing figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example,the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggeratedrelative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodimentsof the present disclosure. The same reference numerals in differentfigures denote the same elements.

The terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in thedescription and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishingbetween similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particularsequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the termsso used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such thatthe embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operationin sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.Furthermore, the terms “include,” and “have,” and any variationsthereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that aprocess, method, system, article, device, or apparatus that comprises alist of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but mayinclude other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process,method, system, article, device, or apparatus.

The terms “left,” “right,” “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,”“under,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, areused for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describingpermanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms soused are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that theembodiments of the apparatus, methods, and/or articles of manufacturedescribed herein are, for example, capable of operation in otherorientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.

The terms “couple,” “coupled,” “couples,” “coupling,” and the likeshould be broadly understood and refer to connecting two or moreelements mechanically and/or otherwise. Two or more electrical elementsmay be electrically coupled together, but not be mechanically orotherwise coupled together. Coupling may be for any length of time,e.g., permanent or semi-permanent or only for an instant. “Electricalcoupling” and the like should be broadly understood and includeelectrical coupling of all types. The absence of the word “removably,”“removable,” and the like near the word “coupled,” and the like does notmean that the coupling, etc. in question is or is not removable.

As defined herein, two or more elements are “integral” if they arecomprised of the same piece of material. As defined herein, two or moreelements are “non-integral” if each is comprised of a different piece ofmaterial.

As defined herein, “approximately” can, in some embodiments, mean withinplus or minus ten percent of the stated value. In other embodiments,“approximately” can mean within plus or minus five percent of the statedvalue. In further embodiments, “approximately” can mean within plus orminus three percent of the stated value. In yet other embodiments,“approximately” can mean within plus or minus one percent of the statedvalue.

As defined herein, “real-time” can, in some embodiments, be defined withrespect to operations carried out as soon as practically possible uponoccurrence of a triggering event. A triggering event can include receiptof data necessary to execute a task or to otherwise process information.Because of delays inherent in transmission and/or in computing speeds,the term “real-time” encompasses operations that occur in “near”real-time or somewhat delayed from a triggering event. In a number ofembodiments, “real-time” can mean real-time less a time delay forprocessing (e.g., determining) and/or transmitting data. The particulartime delay can vary depending on the type and/or amount of the data, theprocessing speeds of the hardware, the transmission capability of thecommunication hardware, the transmission distance, etc. However, in manyembodiments, the time delay can be less than 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10minutes, or another suitable time delay period.

DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENTS

Turning to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of acomputer system 100, all of which or a portion of which can be suitablefor (i) implementing part or all of one or more embodiments of thetechniques, methods, and systems and/or (ii) implementing and/oroperating part or all of one or more embodiments of the non-transitorycomputer readable media described herein. As an example, a different orseparate one of computer system 100 (and its internal components, or oneor more elements of computer system 100) can be suitable forimplementing part or all of the techniques described herein. Computersystem 100 can comprise chassis 102 containing one or more circuitboards (not shown), a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port 112, a CompactDisc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM) and/or Digital Video Disc (DVD) drive116, and a hard drive 114. A representative block diagram of theelements included on the circuit boards inside chassis 102 is shown inFIG. 2. A central processing unit (CPU) 210 in FIG. 2 is coupled to asystem bus 214 in FIG. 2. In various embodiments, the architecture ofCPU 210 can be compliant with any of a variety of commerciallydistributed architecture families.

Continuing with FIG. 2, system bus 214 also is coupled to memory storageunit 208 that includes both read only memory (ROM) and random accessmemory (RAM). Non-volatile portions of memory storage unit 208 or theROM can be encoded with a boot code sequence suitable for restoringcomputer system 100 (FIG. 1) to a functional state after a system reset.In addition, memory storage unit 208 can include microcode such as aBasic Input-Output System (BIOS). In some examples, the one or morememory storage units of the various embodiments disclosed herein caninclude memory storage unit 208, a USB-equipped electronic device (e.g.,an external memory storage unit (not shown) coupled to universal serialbus (USB) port 112 (FIGS. 1-2)), hard drive 114 (FIGS. 1-2), and/orCD-ROM, DVD, Blu-Ray, or other suitable media, such as media configuredto be used in CD-ROM and/or DVD drive 116 (FIGS. 1-2). Non-volatile ornon-transitory memory storage unit(s) refer to the portions of thememory storage units(s) that are non-volatile memory and not atransitory signal. In the same or different examples, the one or morememory storage units of the various embodiments disclosed herein caninclude an operating system, which can be a software program thatmanages the hardware and software resources of a computer and/or acomputer network. The operating system can perform basic tasks such as,for example, controlling and allocating memory, prioritizing theprocessing of instructions, controlling input and output devices,facilitating networking, and managing files. Exemplary operating systemscan include one or more of the following: (i) Microsoft® Windows®operating system (OS) by Microsoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash., UnitedStates of America, (ii) Mac® OS X by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.,United States of America, (iii) UNIX® OS, and (iv) Linux® OS. Furtherexemplary operating systems can comprise one of the following: (i) theiOS® operating system by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., United Statesof America, (ii) the Blackberry® operating system by Research In Motion(RIM) of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, (iii) the WebOS operating system byLG Electronics of Seoul, South Korea, (iv) the Android™ operating systemdeveloped by Google, of Mountain View, Calif., United States of America,(v) the Windows Mobile™ operating system by Microsoft Corp. of Redmond,Wash., United States of America, or (vi) the Symbian™ operating systemby Accenture PLC of Dublin, Ireland.

As used herein, “processor” and/or “processing module” means any type ofcomputational circuit, such as but not limited to a microprocessor, amicrocontroller, a controller, a complex instruction set computing(CISC) microprocessor, a reduced instruction set computing (RISC)microprocessor, a very long instruction word (VLIW) microprocessor, agraphics processor, a digital signal processor, or any other type ofprocessor or processing circuit capable of performing the desiredfunctions. In some examples, the one or more processors of the variousembodiments disclosed herein can comprise CPU 210.

In the depicted embodiment of FIG. 2, various I/O devices such as a diskcontroller 204, a graphics adapter 224, a video controller 202, akeyboard adapter 226, a mouse adapter 206, a network adapter 220, andother I/O devices 222 can be coupled to system bus 214. Keyboard adapter226 and mouse adapter 206 are coupled to a keyboard 104 (FIGS. 1-2) anda mouse 110 (FIGS. 1-2), respectively, of computer system 100 (FIG. 1).While graphics adapter 224 and video controller 202 are indicated asdistinct units in FIG. 2, video controller 202 can be integrated intographics adapter 224, or vice versa in other embodiments. Videocontroller 202 is suitable for refreshing a monitor 106 (FIGS. 1-2) todisplay images on a screen 108 (FIG. 1) of computer system 100 (FIG. 1).Disk controller 204 can control hard drive 114 (FIGS. 1-2), USB port 112(FIGS. 1-2), and CD-ROM and/or DVD drive 116 (FIGS. 1-2). In otherembodiments, distinct units can be used to control each of these devicesseparately.

In some embodiments, network adapter 220 can comprise and/or beimplemented as a WNIC (wireless network interface controller) card (notshown) plugged or coupled to an expansion port (not shown) in computersystem 100 (FIG. 1). In other embodiments, the WNIC card can be awireless network card built into computer system 100 (FIG. 1). Awireless network adapter can be built into computer system 100 (FIG. 1)by having wireless communication capabilities integrated into themotherboard chipset (not shown), or implemented via one or morededicated wireless communication chips (not shown), connected through aPCI (peripheral component interconnector) or a PCI express bus ofcomputer system 100 (FIG. 1) or USB port 112 (FIG. 1). In otherembodiments, network adapter 220 can comprise and/or be implemented as awired network interface controller card (not shown).

Although many other components of computer system 100 (FIG. 1) are notshown, such components and their interconnection are well known to thoseof ordinary skill in the art. Accordingly, further details concerningthe construction and composition of computer system 100 (FIG. 1) and thecircuit boards inside chassis 102 (FIG. 1) are not discussed herein.

When computer system 100 in FIG. 1 is running, program instructionsstored on a USB drive in USB port 112, on a CD-ROM or DVD in CD-ROMand/or DVD drive 116, on hard drive 114, or in memory storage unit 208(FIG. 2) are executed by CPU 210 (FIG. 2). A portion of the programinstructions, stored on these devices, can be suitable for carrying outall or at least part of the techniques described herein. In variousembodiments, computer system 100 can be reprogrammed with one or moremodules, system, applications, and/or databases, such as those describedherein, to convert a general purpose computer to a special purposecomputer. For purposes of illustration, programs and other executableprogram components are shown herein as discrete systems, although it isunderstood that such programs and components may reside at various timesin different storage components of computing device 100, and can beexecuted by CPU 210. Alternatively, or in addition to, the systems andprocedures described herein can be implemented in hardware, or acombination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. For example, one ormore application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) can be programmedto carry out one or more of the systems and procedures described herein.For example, one or more of the programs and/or executable programcomponents described herein can be implemented in one or more ASICs.

Although computer system 100 is illustrated as a desktop computer inFIG. 1, there can be examples where computer system 100 may take adifferent form factor while still having functional elements similar tothose described for computer system 100. In some embodiments, computersystem 100 may comprise a single computer, a single server, or a clusteror collection of computers or servers, or a cloud of computers orservers. Typically, a cluster or collection of servers can be used whenthe demand on computer system 100 exceeds the reasonable capability of asingle server or computer. In certain embodiments, computer system 100may comprise a portable computer, such as a laptop computer. In certainother embodiments, computer system 100 may comprise a mobile device,such as a smartphone. In certain additional embodiments, computer system100 may comprise an embedded system.

Turning ahead in the drawings, FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of asystem 300 that can be employed for a predicting performance metrics ofan advertisement and/or an item, according to an embodiment. System 300is merely exemplary and embodiments of the system are not limited to theembodiments presented herein. The system can be employed in manydifferent embodiments or examples not specifically depicted or describedherein. In some embodiments, certain elements, modules, or systems ofsystem 300 can perform various procedures, processes, and/or activities.In other embodiments, the procedures, processes, and/or activities canbe performed by other suitable elements, modules, or systems of system300. System 300 can be implemented with hardware and/or software, asdescribed herein. In some embodiments, part or all of the hardwareand/or software can be conventional, while in these or otherembodiments, part or all of the hardware and/or software can becustomized (e.g., optimized) for implementing part or all of thefunctionality of system 300 described herein.

In many embodiments, system 300 can include a prediction model frameworksystem 310 and/or a web server 320. Prediction model framework system310 and/or web server 320 can each be a computer system, such ascomputer system 100 (FIG. 1), as described above, and can each be asingle computer, a single server, or a cluster or collection ofcomputers or servers, or a cloud of computers or servers. In anotherembodiment, a single computer system can host two or more of, or all of,prediction model framework system 310 and/or web server 320. Additionaldetails regarding prediction model framework system 310 and/or webserver 320 are described herein.

In a number of embodiments, each of prediction model framework system310 and/or web server 320 can be a special-purpose computer programedspecifically to perform specific functions not associated with ageneral-purpose computer, as described in greater detail below.

In some embodiments, web server 320 can be in data communication throughNetwork 330 with one or more user computers, such as user computers 340and/or 341. Network 330 can be a public network, a private network or ahybrid network. In some embodiments, user computers 340-341 can be usedby users, such as users 350 and 351, which also can be referred to asassociates, employees, data scientists, customers, in which case, usercomputers 340 and 341 can be referred to as associate computers. In manyembodiments, web server 320 can host one or more sites (e.g., websites)that allow users to browse and/or search for items (e.g., products), toadd items to a catalog, and/or to order (e.g., purchase) items, inaddition to other suitable activities.

In some embodiments, an internal network that is not open to the publiccan be used for communications between prediction model framework system310 and/or web server 320 within system 300. Accordingly, in someembodiments, prediction model framework system 310 (and/or the softwareused by such systems) can refer to a back end of system 300, which canbe operated by an operator and/or administrator of system 300, and webserver 320 (and/or the software used by such system) can refer to afront end of system 300, and can be accessed and/or used by one or moreusers, such as users 350-351, using user computers 340-341,respectively. In these or other embodiments, the operator and/oradministrator of system 300 can manage system 300, the processor(s) ofsystem 300, and/or the memory storage unit(s) of system 300 using theinput device(s) and/or display device(s) of system 300.

In certain embodiments, user computers 340-341 can be desktop computers,laptop computers, a mobile device, and/or other endpoint devices used byone or more users 350 and 351, respectively. A mobile device can referto a portable electronic device (e.g., an electronic device easilyconveyable by hand by a person of average size) with the capability topresent audio and/or visual data (e.g., text, images, videos, music,etc.). For example, a mobile device can include at least one of adigital media player, a cellular telephone (e.g., a smartphone), apersonal digital assistant, a handheld digital computer device (e.g., atablet personal computer device), a laptop computer device (e.g., anotebook computer device, a netbook computer device), a wearable usercomputer device, or another portable computer device with the capabilityto present audio and/or visual data (e.g., images, videos, music, etc.).Thus, in many examples, a mobile device can include a volume and/orweight sufficiently small as to permit the mobile device to be easilyconveyable by hand. For examples, in some embodiments, a mobile devicecan occupy a volume of less than or equal to approximately 1790 cubiccentimeters, 2434 cubic centimeters, 2876 cubic centimeters, 4056 cubiccentimeters, and/or 5752 cubic centimeters. Further, in theseembodiments, a mobile device can weigh less than or equal to 15.6Newtons, 17.8 Newtons, 22.3 Newtons, 31.2 Newtons, and/or 44.5 Newtons.

Exemplary mobile devices can include (i) an iPod®, iPhone®, iTouch®,iPad®, MacBook® or similar product by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.,United States of America, (ii) a Blackberry® or similar product byResearch in Motion (RIM) of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, (iii) a Lumia® orsimilar product by the Nokia Corporation of Keilaniemi, Espoo, Finland,and/or (iv) a Galaxy™ or similar product by the Samsung Group of SamsungTown, Seoul, South Korea. Further, in the same or different embodiments,a mobile device can include an electronic device configured to implementone or more of (i) the iPhone® operating system by Apple Inc. ofCupertino, Calif., United States of America, (ii) the Blackberry®operating system by Research In Motion (RIM) of Waterloo, Ontario,Canada, (iii) the Palm® operating system by Palm, Inc. of Sunnyvale,Calif., United States, (iv) the Android™ operating system developed bythe Open Handset Alliance, (v) the Windows Mobile™ operating system byMicrosoft Corp. of Redmond, Wash., United States of America, or (vi) theSymbian™ operating system by Nokia Corp. of Keilaniemi, Espoo, Finland.

In many embodiments, prediction model framework system 310 and/or webserver 320 can each include one or more input devices (e.g., one or morekeyboards, one or more keypads, one or more pointing devices such as acomputer mouse or computer mice, one or more touchscreen displays, amicrophone, etc.), and/or can each include one or more display devices(e.g., one or more monitors, one or more touch screen displays,projectors, etc.). In these or other embodiments, one or more of theinput device(s) can be similar or identical to keyboard 104 (FIG. 1)and/or a mouse 110 (FIG. 1). Further, one or more of the displaydevice(s) can be similar or identical to monitor 106 (FIG. 1) and/orscreen 108 (FIG. 1). The input device(s) and the display device(s) canbe coupled to prediction model framework system 310 and/or web server320, in a wired manner and/or a wireless manner, and the coupling can bedirect and/or indirect, as well as locally and/or remotely. As anexample of an indirect manner (which may or may not also be a remotemanner), a keyboard-video-mouse (KVM) switch can be used to couple theinput device(s) and the display device(s) to the processor(s) and/or thememory storage unit(s). In some embodiments, the KVM switch also can bepart of prediction model framework system 310 and/or web server 320. Ina similar manner, the processors and/or the non-transitorycomputer-readable media can be local and/or remote to each other.

Meanwhile, in many embodiments, prediction model framework system 310and/or web server 320 also can be configured to communicate with and/orinclude one or more databases and/or other suitable databases. The oneor more databases can include an item database that contains informationabout items or SKUs (stock keeping units), for example, among other dataas described herein. The one or more databases can be stored on one ormore memory storage units (e.g., non-transitory computer readablemedia), which can be similar or identical to the one or more memorystorage units (e.g., non-transitory computer readable media) describedabove with respect to computer system 100 (FIG. 1). Also, in someembodiments, for any particular database of the one or more databases,that particular database can be stored on a single memory storage unit,or the contents of that particular database can be spread acrossmultiple ones of the memory storage units storing the one or moredatabases, depending on the size of the particular database and/or thestorage capacity of the memory storage units.

The one or more databases can each include a structured (e.g., indexed)collection of data and can be managed by any suitable databasemanagement systems configured to define, create, query, organize,update, and manage database(s). Exemplary database management systemscan include MySQL (Structured Query Language) Database, PostgreSQLDatabase, Microsoft SQL Server Database, Oracle Database, SAP (Systems,Applications, & Products) Database, and IBM DB2 Database.

Meanwhile, communication between prediction model framework system 310,web server 320, and/or the one or more databases, can be implementedusing any suitable manner of wired and/or wireless communication.Accordingly, system 300 can include any software and/or hardwarecomponents configured to implement the wired and/or wirelesscommunication. Further, the wired and/or wireless communication can beimplemented using any one or any combination of wired and/or wirelesscommunication (e.g., ring, line, tree, bus, mesh, star, daisy chain,hybrid, etc.) and/or protocols (e.g., personal area network (PAN)protocol(s), local area network (LAN) protocol(s), wide area network(WAN) protocol(s), cellular network protocol(s), powerline networkprotocol(s), etc.). Exemplary PAN protocol(s) can include Bluetooth,Zigbee, Wireless Universal Serial Bus (USB), Z-Wave, etc.; exemplary LANand/or WAN protocol(s) can include Institute of Electrical andElectronic Engineers (IEEE) 802.3 (also known as Ethernet), IEEE 802.11(also known as WiFi), etc.; and exemplary wireless cellular networkprotocol(s) can include Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM),General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Code Division Multiple Access(CDMA), Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO), Enhanced Data Rates for GSMEvolution (EDGE), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS),Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), Digital AMPS(IS-136/Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)), Integrated DigitalEnhanced Network (iDEN), Evolved High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA+),Long-Term Evolution (LTE), WiMAX, etc. The specific communicationsoftware and/or hardware implemented can depend on the networktopologies and/or protocols implemented, and vice versa. In manyembodiments, exemplary communication hardware can include wiredcommunication hardware including, for example, one or more data buses,such as, for example, universal serial bus(es), one or more networkingcables, such as, for example, coaxial cable(s), optical fiber cable(s),and/or twisted pair cable(s), any other suitable data cable, etc.Further exemplary communication hardware can include wirelesscommunication hardware including, for example, one or more radiotransceivers, one or more infrared transceivers, etc. Additionalexemplary communication hardware can include one or more networkingcomponents (e.g., modulator-demodulator components, gateway components,etc.).

Turning ahead in the drawings, FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart for amethod 400, according to another embodiment. In some embodiments, method400 can be a method of automatically predicting performance metrics foran item. In several embodiments, determining more than one performancemetric for an item can be implemented based on a multilayer neuralnetwork. Method 400 is merely exemplary and is not limited to theembodiments presented herein. Method 400 can be employed in manydifferent embodiments and/or examples not specifically depicted ordescribed herein. In some embodiments, the procedures, the processes,and/or the activities of method 400 can be performed in the orderpresented. In other embodiments, the procedures, the processes, and/orthe activities of method 400 can be performed in any suitable order. Instill other embodiments, one or more of the procedures, the processes,and/or the activities of method 400 can be combined or skipped. Inseveral embodiments, system 300 (FIG. 3) can be suitable to performmethod 400 and/or one or more of the activities of method 400.

In these or other embodiments, one or more of the activities of method400 can be implemented as one or more computing instructions configuredto run at one or more processors and configured to be stored at one ormore non-transitory computer-readable media. Such non-transitorycomputer-readable media can be part of a computer system such asprediction model framework system 310 (FIG. 3) and/or web server 320(FIG. 3). The processor(s) can be similar or identical to theprocessor(s) described above with respect to computer system 100 (FIG.1).

Referring to FIG. 4, method 400 can include a block 401 of extractingmeta features for an item to generate sparse feature embeddings for theitem. In some embodiments, meta features can be non-structuralinformation, such as such as item-type information, item price, itemhierarchy information, item description, item title, item images, staticdata about the item, and/or other suitable information about the item.In many embodiments, extracting meta features can be one of two featuretowers utilized in the deep-learning framework.

In several embodiments, block 401 can include encoding hierarchyinformation about the item. In some embodiments, the hierarchyinformation for an item can include item type hierarchy information froman online catalog, such as taxonomy information.

In various embodiments, block 401 can include using an NLP-basedembedding algorithm to embed text features about the item. In severalembodiments, the text features can include an advertisement for theitem, a title of the item, a description of the item, and/or anothersuitable text features. NLP-based embedding techniques used to embedtext features can include TF-IDF (term frequency-inverse documentfrequency), word2vec, deep-learning transformers, and/or anothersuitable embedding technique.

In a number of embodiments, block 401 can include extracting data fromone or more images of the item using a convolutional neural network(CNN). In some embodiments, a pre-trained convolutional neural networkcan be used to extract image features from the images.

In some embodiments, method 400 also can include a block 402 ofreducing, using a multilayer perceptron, a dimension of the sparsefeature embeddings to generate a representation vector for the metafeatures. In several embodiments, the encoded hierarchy features, theembedding text features, and/or the pretrained CNN for image featurescan be concatenated and fed into the multilayer perceptron to reducedimensions from sparse data to dense data. In various embodiments, allnon-traffic extracted features can be concatenated and fed into themultilayer perceptron to generate a representation vector for the staticfeatures for the item. In some embodiments, the output from themultilayer perceptron can be used as input into the multilayer neuralnetwork with a rectified linear unit (ReLU), as described below in block404.

In several embodiments, method 400 additionally can include a block 403of extracting, using a recurrent neural network, sequential data fromdense traffic features for the item over a period of time. In manyembodiments, extracting dense features can be one of two feature towersutilized in the deep-learning framework. In some embodiments, along withthe output from the perceptron, the output from the recurrent neuralnetwork also can be used as input into the multilayer neural networkwith a rectified linear unit (ReLU), as described below in block 404. Insome embodiments, block 403 can be performed before, after, orconcurrently with (e.g., in parallel with) block 401 and/or block 402.

In various embodiments, method 400 further can include a block 404 ofinputting the representation vector for the meta features and thesequential data from the dense traffic features into a multilayer neuralnetwork with a rectified linear unit (ReLU) activation function and ascoring layer to generate one or more performance metrics for the item.In some embodiments, the outputs from the multilayer perceptron in block402 and the recurrent neural network in block 403 can be combined inpreparation to input the combined data into the multilayer neuralnetwork with the ReLU activation function. In various embodiments, thescoring layer can generate predictions of performance metrics, such asconversion rate (convrt), order size, and/or contributed profit perorder (CP/order). In some embodiments, the individual outputs can beintermediate metrics used to create other predictions that can havebusiness value, such as:

RPC (revenue per click)=(conversion rate)*(order size)

CPPC (CP per click)=(conversion rate)*(CP/order)

In several embodiments, the prediction model framework in blocks 401-404can be used for an offline learning service and/or as an online learningservice. In some embodiments, the output of the multilayer neuralnetwork with the second ReLU layer can be used for both the offlinelearning service and the online learning service.

In various embodiments, the output layer from the second ReLU layer cangenerate an embedding vector which can represent a combination of thehistorical performance data for both the dense traffic features and theextracted non-structural meta features. In several embodiments, thisembedding vector can be pre-computed offline and retrieved in near-realtime (NRT) for use in an online learning service.

In some embodiments, method 400 also and optionally can include a block405 of storing embedding vectors generated by the multilayer neuralnetwork. For example, the embedding vectors can be generated offline andstored in a database to be used by the online service. In a number ofembodiments, the embedding vectors can be embedding vectors generated bythe second ReLU layer.

In various embodiments, method 400 further and optionally can include ablock 406 of retrieving the embedding vectors. For example, the onlineservice can retrieve the embedding vectors stored in block 405.

In several embodiments, method 400 also can include, after block 406, ablock 407 of combining the embedding vectors with real-time online datafor the item to generate inputs. In some embodiments, an advantage ofthe online learning service can include allowing the system to adjust ormodify the prediction metrics of the item based on a real-time datastream while the offline learning approach uses data from sparsefeatures and dense features.

In a number of embodiments, method 400 further can include, after block407, a block 408 of training a machine-learning model using the inputsto predict a performance metric for the item. In several embodiments, bycombining the embedding vector and the near-real-time data, the onlinelearning service can train a light-weight machine-learning model (e.g.,a linear-regression model) in real-time to predict the same performancemetrics (e.g. convert, ordersize, CP/order) as in the offline learningservice.

In some embodiments, method 400 additionally and optionally can includea block 409 of generating a revenue per click metric based on theconversion rate and the order size.

In various embodiments, method 400 also can include a block 410 ofgenerating a contributed profit per click metric based on the conversionrate and the contributed profit per order.

Turning ahead in the drawings, FIG. 5 illustrates a flow chart diagramfor a method 500, according to another embodiment. Method 500 can be anend-to-end deep-learning framework with automatic feature extractionbased on two feature extraction towers in the framework. Method 500 caninclude an offline learning model 501 and an online learning model 520,which can be used to generate performance metrics for an item, such asRPC. Method 500 can be similar or identical to method 400 (FIG. 4).Method 500 can be employed in many different embodiments and/or examplesnot specifically depicted or described herein. In some embodiments, theprocedures, the processes, and/or the activities of method 500 can beperformed in the order presented or in parallel. In other embodiments,the procedures, the processes, and/or the activities of method 500 canbe performed in any suitable order. In still other embodiments, one ormore of the procedures, the processes, and/or the activities of method500 can be combined or skipped. In several embodiments, system 300 (FIG.3) can be suitable to perform method 500 and/or one or more of theactivities of method 500.

In these or other embodiments, one or more of the activities of method500 can be implemented as one or more computing instructions configuredto run at one or more processors and configured to be stored at one ormore non-transitory computer-readable media. Such non-transitorycomputer-readable media can be part of a computer system such asprediction model framework system 310 (FIG. 3) and/or web server 320(FIG. 3). The processor(s) can be similar or identical to theprocessor(s) described above with respect to computer system 100 (FIG.1).

In several embodiments, method 500 can include offline learning model501 and online learning model 520, which each can generate a set ofperformance metrics of an item. Such key revenue metrics can include aconversion rate metric 513, an order size metric 514, a contributedprofit (CP) per order metric 515, a revenue per click (RPC) metric 523,and/or other suitable performance metrics.

In some embodiments, offline learning model 501 can include two featureextraction towers in the framework, including meta features tower 503and dense traffic features tower 508. Meta features tower 503 canextract sparse features (e.g., price, hierarchy information,description, and images) of an item from data 502 (e.g., internal adsdata, ad spend data, revenue, traffic data). Such sparse features caninclude embedding data 504 (embedding text features), embedding data 505(encoded hierarchy features), and embedding data 506 (image features,transformed using a convolutional neural network). Such sparse featurescan be concatenated and fed as input into a multilayer perceptron (MLP)507 to further reduce dimension (sparse to dense).

In several embodiments, dense features tower 508 also can extract densetraffic features 509 (e.g., click, revenue, spend, etc.) for an itemfrom data 502, such as traffic data. A recurrent neural network (RNN)510 and/or transformers can extract the historical traffic sequentialinformation, or the traffic data can be used directly.

In various embodiments, output from MLP 507 and RNN 510 can beconcatenated and input into multiple layers of Rectified Linear Units,such as a first ReLU layer 511 and a second ReLU layer 512, to outputmetrics at a scoring layer including conversion rate metric 513, ordersize metric 514, and/or CP per order metric 515

In several embodiments, online learning model 520 can retrieve andre-purpose the output of second ReLU layer 512 to be fed into asimplified scoring layer, such as linear-regression model 522 (e.g.,machine-learning model) along with a Near Real Time (NRT) data stream521. In some embodiments, the online learning model 520 can use theoutputs of linear regression 522 and NRT data stream 521 to generateoutput performance metrics, such as RPC 523, or other performancemetrics. In various embodiments, an advantage of online learning model520 over offline learning model 501 can be shown by the system beingable to modify or adjust predictions for a performance metric using NRTdata stream 521.

Turning back in the drawings, FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram ofprediction model framework system 310. Prediction model framework system310 is merely exemplary and is not limited to the embodiments presentedherein. Prediction model framework system 310 can be employed in manydifferent embodiments or examples not specifically depicted or describedherein. In some embodiments, certain elements or systems of predictionmodel framework system 310 can perform various procedures, processes,and/or acts. In other embodiments, the procedures, processes, and/oracts can be performed by other suitable elements or systems. In manyembodiments, the systems of prediction model framework system 310 can bemodules of computing instructions (e.g., software modules) stored atnon-transitory computer readable media. In other embodiments, thesystems of prediction model framework system 310 can be implemented inhardware.

In many embodiments, prediction model framework system 310 can include acommunication system 311. In a number of embodiments, communicationsystem 311 can at least partially perform block 401 (FIG. 4) ofextracting meta features for an item to generate sparse featureembeddings for the item, receiving data 502 (FIG. 5), and/or receivingdata 521 (FIG. 5).

In several embodiments, prediction model framework system 310 also caninclude an embedding system 312. In various embodiments, embeddingsystem 312 can at least partially perform block 401 (FIG. 4) ofextracting meta features for an item to generate sparse featureembeddings for the item, block 405 (FIG. 4) of storing embedding vectorsgenerated by the multilayer neural network, block 406 (FIG. 4) ofretrieving the embedding vectors, block 407 (FIG. 4) of combining theembedding vector with real-time online data for the item to generateinputs, meta features tower 503 (FIG. 5) generating embedding data504-506 (FIG. 5), and/or dense features tower 508 (FIG. 5) generatingdense traffic features 509 (FIG. 5).

In many embodiments, prediction model framework system 310 further caninclude a multilayer perceptron system 313. In several embodiments,multilayer perceptron system 313 can at least partially perform block402 (FIG. 4) of reducing, using a multilayer perceptron, a dimension ofthe sparse feature embeddings to generate a representation vector forthe meta features and/or using MLP 507 (FIG. 5).

In some embodiments, prediction model framework system 310 additionallycan include a recurring neural network system 314. In many embodiments,recurring neural network system 314 can at least partially perform block403 (FIG. 4) of extracting, using a recurrent neural network, sequentialdata from dense traffic features for the item over a period of timeand/or using RNN 510 (FIG. 5).

In various embodiments, prediction model framework system 310 also caninclude a multilayer neural network system 315. In some embodiments,multilayer neural network system 315 can at least partially performblock 404 (FIG. 4) of inputting the representation vector for the metafeatures and the sequential data from the dense traffic features into amultilayer neural network with a rectified linear unit (ReLU) activationfunction and a scoring layer to generate one or more performance metricsfor the item, using first ReLU layer 511 (FIG. 5), and/or using secondReLU layer 512 (FIG. 5).

In a number of embodiments, prediction model framework system 310further can include a machine-learning system 316. In some embodiments,machine-learning system 316 can at least partially perform block 408(FIG. 4) of training a machine-learning model using the inputs topredict a performance metric for the item and/or using linear-regressionmodel 522 (FIG. 5).

In several embodiments, prediction model framework system 310additionally can include a performance metric system 317. In variousembodiments, performance metric system 317 can at least partiallyperform block 409 (FIG. 4) of generating a revenue per click metricbased on the conversion rate and the order size, block 410 (FIG. 4) ofgenerating a contributed profit per click metric based on the conversionrate and the contributed profit per order, and/or generating conversionrate metric 513 (FIG. 5), order size metric 514 (FIG. 5), CP per ordermetric 515 (FIG. 5) and/or RPC 523 (FIG. 5).

In several embodiments, web server 320 can include a webpage system 321.Webpage system 321 can at least partially perform sending instructionsto user computers (e.g., 340-341 (FIG. 3)) based on information receivedfrom communication system 311.

In some embodiments, the prediction model framework described herein canadvantageously provide an end-to-end deep-learning framework withautomatic feature extraction and high extensibility. For example, thedeep learning-based RPC (revenue per click) prediction model frameworkdescribed herein can improve online advertisements (ads) biddingperformance and prediction. In various embodiments, prediction modelframework system 310 (FIG. 3) can provide several advantages overconventional prediction frameworks. In some embodiments, advantages caninclude an improvement of RPC predictions for performance metrics of anitem (increased accuracy), an increase in prediction coverage foradvertisements, and a flexible and extendable framework to address theperformance of advertisements viewed by users over conventional methods.

Historically, advertisement (ads) performance predictions relied mostlyon historical traffic features. In some embodiments, another advantageof the prediction model framework can be shown by an expand featurespace to cover other non-structural information, such as product typeinformation, product hierarchy information, ads title, images in ads,and/or item description information. In several embodiments,conventional machine-learning models could not utilize thenon-structural information directly. In many embodiments, anotheradvantage of the prediction model framework system can be shown by theuser of feature extractors to accommodate different types and formats offeatures.

In many embodiments, the techniques described herein can provide severaltechnological improvements. In some embodiments, the techniquesdescribed herein can provide for automatically determining performancemetrics for an item using a prediction model framework system. In manyembodiments, the techniques described herein can beneficially makepredictions based on real-time data streams that describe current iteminformation.

In a number of embodiments, the techniques described herein canadvantageously provide a consistent user experience by dynamicallyupdating performance metrics of items, such as prediction modelframework system 310 (FIG. 3) across different applications that querythis information. For example, over two million product updates andadvertisements can be viewed from users in one day. In some embodiments,the techniques provided herein can beneficially reduce computingresources and costs while continuing to offer real time updates for itemperformance received each second, minute, and/or other suitable periodof time in at least a day, a week, and/or other suitable periods oftime.

In many embodiments, the techniques described herein can be usedcontinuously at a scale that cannot be handled using manual techniques.For example, the number of daily and/or monthly views of ads for an itemusing multiple marketing channels can exceed approximately ten millionand/or other suitable numbers, the number of registered users to aretail webpage can exceed approximately one million and/or othersuitable numbers, and/or the number of products and/or items sold on thewebsite can exceed approximately ten million (10,000,000) approximatelyeach day.

In a number of embodiments, the techniques described herein can solve atechnical problem that arises only within the realm of computernetworks, as determining a performance metric of an item usingmultilayer neural networks does not exist outside the realm of computernetworks. Moreover, the techniques described herein can solve atechnical problem that cannot be solved outside the context of computernetworks.

Various embodiments can include a system including one or moreprocessors and one or more non-transitory computer-readable mediastoring computing instructions configured to run on the one or moreprocessors and perform certain acts. The acts can include extractingmeta features for an item to generate sparse feature embeddings for theitem. The acts also can include reducing, using a multilayer perceptron,a dimension of the sparse feature embeddings to generate arepresentation vector for the meta features. The acts further caninclude extracting, using a recurrent neural network, sequential datafrom dense traffic features for the item over a period of time. The actsalso can include inputting the representation vector for the metafeatures and the sequential data from the dense traffic features into amultilayer neural network with a rectified linear unit (ReLU) activationfunction and a scoring layer to generate one or more performance metricsfor the item.

A number of embodiments can include a method being implemented viaexecution of computing instructions configured to run at one or moreprocessors and stored at one or more non-transitory computer-readablemedia. The method can include extracting meta features for an item togenerate sparse feature embeddings for the item. The method also caninclude reducing, using a multilayer perceptron, a dimension of thesparse feature embeddings to generate a representation vector for themeta features. The method further can include extracting, using arecurrent neural network, sequential data from dense traffic featuresfor the item over a period of time. The method additionally can includeinputting the representation vector for the meta features and thesequential data from the dense traffic features into a multilayer neuralnetwork with a rectified linear unit (ReLU) activation function and ascoring layer to generate one or more performance metrics for the item.

Although automatically determining key performance metrics using amultilayer neural network with a rectified linear unit activation for anitem has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it willbe understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may bemade without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure.Accordingly, the disclosure of embodiments is intended to beillustrative of the scope of the disclosure and is not intended to belimiting. It is intended that the scope of the disclosure shall belimited only to the extent required by the appended claims. For example,to one of ordinary skill in the art, it will be readily apparent thatany element of FIGS. 1-5 may be modified, and that the foregoingdiscussion of certain of these embodiments does not necessarilyrepresent a complete description of all possible embodiments. Forexample, one or more of the procedures, processes, or activities ofFIGS. 4-5 may include different procedures, processes, and/or activitiesand be performed by many different modules, in many different orders,and/or one or more of the procedures, processes, or activities of FIGS.4-5 may include one or more of the procedures, processes, or activitiesof another different one of FIGS. 4-5. As another example, the systemswithin prediction model framework 310 (FIG. 3) and webserver 320 (FIG.3) can be interchanged or otherwise modified.

Replacement of one or more claimed elements constitutes reconstructionand not repair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and solutionsto problems have been described with regard to specific embodiments. Thebenefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element or elementsthat may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or becomemore pronounced, however, are not to be construed as critical, required,or essential features or elements of any or all of the claims, unlesssuch benefits, advantages, solutions, or elements are stated in suchclaim.

Moreover, embodiments and limitations disclosed herein are not dedicatedto the public under the doctrine of dedication if the embodiments and/orlimitations: (1) are not expressly claimed in the claims; and (2) are orare potentially equivalents of express elements and/or limitations inthe claims under the doctrine of equivalents

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: one or more processors; andone or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computinginstructions configured to run on the one or more processors andperform: extracting meta features for an item to generate sparse featureembeddings for the item; reducing, using a multilayer perceptron, adimension of the sparse feature embeddings to generate a representationvector for the meta features; extracting, using a recurrent neuralnetwork, sequential data from dense traffic features for the item over aperiod of time; and inputting the representation vector for the metafeatures and the sequential data from the dense traffic features into amultilayer neural network with a rectified linear unit (ReLU) activationfunction and a scoring layer to generate one or more performance metricsfor the item.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the computinginstructions are further configured to perform: storing embeddingvectors generated by the multilayer neural network.
 3. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the computing instructions are further configured toperform: retrieving the embedding vectors; combining the embeddingvectors with real-time online data for the item to generate inputs; andtraining a machine-learning model using the inputs to predict aperformance metric for the item.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein themachine-learning model comprises linear regression.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, wherein extracting the meta features comprises encodinghierarchy information about the item.
 6. The system of claim 1, whereinextracting the meta features comprises using an NLP-based embeddingalgorithm to embed text features about the item, wherein the textfeatures comprise one or more of a title of the item, a description ofthe item.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein extracting the meta featurescomprises extracting data from one or more images of the item using aconvolutional neural network.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the oneor more performance metrics further comprise a conversion rate for theitem, an order size for the item, and a contributed profit per order forthe item.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the computing instructionsare further configured to perform: generating a revenue per click metricbased on the conversion rate and the order size.
 10. The system of claim8, wherein the computing instructions are further configured to perform:generating a contributed profit per click metric based on the conversionrate and the contributed profit per order.
 11. A method beingimplemented via execution of computing instructions configured to run onone or more processors and stored at one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable media, the method comprising: extracting meta featuresfor an item to generate sparse feature embeddings for the item;reducing, using a multilayer perceptron, a dimension of the sparsefeature embeddings to generate a representation vector for the metafeatures; extracting, using a recurrent neural network, sequential datafrom dense traffic features for the item over a period of time; andinputting the representation vector for the meta features and thesequential data from the dense traffic features into a multilayer neuralnetwork with a rectified linear unit (ReLU) activation function and ascoring layer to generate one or more performance metrics for the item.12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: storing embeddingvectors generated by the multilayer neural network.
 13. The method ofclaim 12, further comprising: retrieving the embedding vectors;combining the embedding vectors with real-time online data for the itemto generate inputs; and training a machine-learning model using theinputs to predict a performance metric for the item.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the machine-learning model comprises linearregression.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein extracting the metafeatures comprises encoding hierarchy information about the item. 16.The method of claim 11, wherein extracting the meta features comprisesusing an NLP-based embedding algorithm to embed text features about theitem, wherein the text features comprise one or more of a title of theitem, a description of the item.
 17. The method of claim 11, whereinextracting the meta features comprises extracting data from one or moreimages of the item using a convolutional neural network.
 18. The methodof claim 11, wherein the one or more performance metrics furthercomprise a conversion rate for the item, an order size for the item, anda contributed profit per order for the item.
 19. The method of claim 18,further comprising: generating a revenue per click metric based on theconversion rate and the order size.
 20. The method of claim 18, furthercomprising: generating a contributed profit per click metric based onthe conversion rate and the contributed profit per order.